Detent for cartridge type door hinges



Get. 25, 1949. A. J. swANsoN DETENT FOR CARTRIDGE TYPE DOOR HINGES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 7, 1946 FIG. 7.

FIG; 5.

I'NVENTOR J, svmusou .1 ALFRED ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 25, 1949 DETENT FOR CARTRIDGE TYPE DOOR HINGES Alfred J. Swanson, Hollywood, Calif.

Application December 7, 194.6, Serial N 0. 714,705

3 Claims. 1 This invention relates to door closure control devices and in particular to detent means for a cartridge type door hinge.

One object of my invention is to provide a detent means for door hinges having interchangeable and removable cartridge-type control units concentric with the hinge pins. Another object of my invention is to provide detent means in a hinge having a removable cartridge-type hydraulic checking unit, for removably holding the parts in a selected relative position.

These and other objects are attained by my invention which will be understood from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view partly in section and with parts broken away of my hydraulic checking hinge;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view showing the cartridge containing an hydraulic checking mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line i4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 38 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the detent disks and ball; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the detent wedge.

In general, my invention relates to a detent means for a door hinge having an hydraulic checking mechanism for controlling the angular movement of the door checking mechanism which is enclosed in a removable cartridge concentric with the hinge pin. The cartridge is operatively encased in the cavities of the outer half-casings, each of which is integral with one of the two hinge leaves of each hinge.

The removable cartridge l0 includes a cylindrical housing 4 1 containing the hydraulic checking mechanism and is seated up to the central collar [2 thereof, in the cavity of the lower outer half casing l3 to which is attached the leaf l4, and the upper half-casing l'fi-encloses to the collar I 2 the upper part of the cylindrical cartridge to which is attached the other leaf It, said upper half-casing [5' being non-rotatably attached to 2 means of a hexagonal hole l9 in the upper end thereof.

A detent means is provided to removably hold the upper hinge leaf 216 at any selected angle relative to the other leaf I4, for example, to hold the attached door open at or from the closed position. In my improved embodiment, the detent means consists of one or more deformable spring disks placed between the top surface of the cartridge H and the upper end of the cartridge cavity of the upper half-casing 1'5, with wedge means placed at the desired detent position to fri'ctional'ly engage the disk assembly. In the preferred form shown, a deformable sprin steel disk 5| is riveted to two disks 52 and 52A, the rivets 55 being spaced around the periphery of the disks. The disks 5|, '52, and 52A are provided with hexagonal center holes 49 fitting the hexagonal end [1- of the hinge pin. The lower disks 52 and 52A are provided with holes 55 disposed intermediate the rivets 55 and the center hole 49, in which is placed a steel ball 53, the ball being of greater diameter than the combined thickness of the disks 5 2 and 52A so that the ball abuts the under surface of the top disk 5| and extends below the lower sur face of the lower disk 52A. The disk assembly is held in place longitudinally on the hexagonal end I"! of the hinge pin by snap clips l0 positioned above and below the disks, in grooves 'II' in the hinge pin. A detent wedge member 66' is attached to the top surface of the closing cap 28 of the cartridge It, a hole 6'8 being provided in the cap at the desired detent position, in which the mounting pin 61 is inserted. A dimple B9 is provided at the end of the incline to form a seat for the ball 53 at the detent position. When the hinge leaves and attached parts are rotated to the position at which the ball 53 is forced up the inclined surface of the wedge 66, and into the dimple 69, the disks act as a wedging detent. The wedging action against the spring action of the disks rem'ovably holds the parts at the desired position; the parts may be released by exerting sufficient force in the opposite direction to remove the ball 53 from the dimple 69 in wedge 66.

The cartridge I0 is adjustably held against turning in the cavity of the lower half-casing It by the helical pinionor worm 2t which ismounted in the cylindrical hole 21- drilled in the juncture of the casing with the lower leaf, at right angles to the axis of the cartridge so that the helical threads extendt'o engage worm gear teeth in the collar' of the cartridge. The worm or helical the hexagonal upper end of the hinge pin [8' by 55 pinion it is held in the hole '21' by means of the apertured retaining washer '23, which is held in the cavity against one end of the pinion by mening or pressing the edge of the cavity over the washer, or otherwise fastening the washer to the lower leaf. The pinion is conveniently provided with a hexagonal socket 241 which may be turned by means of a suitable tool inserted through the opening of the washer 23. Indexing marks (not shown) may be provided on the collar [2 and the adjacent surface of the lower half casing 13. The central collar 12 of the cartridge is provided with teeth 22 adapted for engagement with the helical threads of the pinion 29. By turning the pinion 2B, the axial position of the hydraulic cartridge ll relative to the lower leaf N, may be adjusted. After the adjustment is made, the pinion 2E3 continues to prevent the cartridge H from turning in the lower half casing l3, so that the hydraulic checking mechanism will function to control the movement of the hinge.

The hydraulic mechanism is enclosed in the hydraulic cartridge unit l6 which consists of a cylindrical cartridge housing H provided in its central portion with an outwardly extending collar I2. The hexagonal extension ll of the hinge pin It! extends above the cap 28 which closes the upper end of the cartridge housing Ii. In the opposite end of the cartridge housing ii there is provided a bottom closure 30 having a bearing 3! on the hinge pin IS.

The hydraulic checking mechanism consists of a rotary piston 33 forming an extension of the hinge pin 58 in a cylindrical working chamber 3Q having a segmental partition member or dam 35. The working chamber 3% is formed by the inner surface of the cartridge housing H, the radial ends of the dam 35, the bottom closing member 30 and the upper closing surface consisting of the bottom 31 of the reservoir bushing 38. A bearing for the lower end of the hinge pin i8 is formed by reducing the diameter of the hinge pin below the piston 33, to fit a hole in the closing member 30 for the cartridge housing. The rotation of the hinge pin H3 causes the angular movement therewithof the rotary piston 33 in the working chamber 34 from one edge of the darn 35 to the other edge, the dam 35 extending between the wall of the cartridge housing If to the surface of the hinge pin. As the piston moves, the hydraulic fluid is forced through several controlled conduits which act to regulate the hydraulic friction in the movement of the hydraulic fiuid from one side of the piston to the other. One control consists of metering pin 39 operating in a hole 1f! concentric with and in the center of hinge pin l8. At right angles to the hinge pin a bypass conduit il through the hinge pin is provided, the metering pin in the portion adjacent the conduit 4|, being tapered so that the flow of hydraulic fiuid may be closely regulated by the endwise movement of the metering pin 39. The pin 39 is positioned by the threaded plug 42 which is threaded into a hole in the upper part of the hinge pin, the metering pin 39 being held upwardly by a compressed coil spring 43 in the bottom of the hole All. A oneway bypass conduit from one side of the piston to the other is provided by the hole i l extending through the hinge pin W from one side of the piston 33 to the other, the hole being provided with a ball 45 in a seat 46 and held in place by a retainer 41. When the piston 33 is moved counterclockwise, hydraulic liquid flows freely from the closed side C of the workin chamber to the open side O of the chamber. When the piston is moved in the opposite direction, the ball 45 is forced into the seat 46 and shuts off the flow of hydraulic fluid. In the movement of the piston from 0 position to the C position, the flow of hydraulic fiuid is further controlled by means of grooves of varying cross-sectional area, cut in the under surface 31 of the reservoir bottom which serves as the upper closing wall for the hydraulic working chamber. In the preferred arrangement, as shown, a bypass groove 68 large enough to permit substantially unrestricted movement of the hydraulic fluid therethrough is provided in the first part of the movement of the piston (in the direction of closing the hinge) following which the groove is tapered to gradually retard the flow of hydraulic fluid by gradually decreasing the crosssectional area; followed by a terminal groove 50 similar in cross-sectional area to the bypass groove 48, allowing free fiow of hydraulic fluid. The arrangement of connected bypass grooves thus described provides for the initial unretarded closing of the hinge and the attached door by suitable actuator means until the door approaches the fully closed position, at which point the constricted groove retards the flow of liquid and slows down the movement of the door, and then shortly before reaching the final closed position, the hydraulic resistance is removed by the provision of the large cross-sectional area 50 so that the door is forced into the latch to the fully closed position.

The non-pressured reserve hydraulic liquid reservoir consists of an annular space between the reservoir bushing 38 and the hinge pin 18. The reservoir is connected hydraulically with the Working chamber by means of check-valved orifices 56, one on each side of the piston. The reservoir bushing is held in place within the cartridge housing by means of locking rings 58 and 59. The top portion of the reservoir is closed by the closing cap 28, and sleeve bearing 60 and GI are provided between the hinge pin and the closing cap 66, the rubber 0 ring 62 being provided around the hinge pin between the bearings 69 and M to prevent leakage of hydraulic liquid. The radial position of the reservoir bushing is fixed by means of the key 63 in suitably placed holes in the reservoir bushing 38 and the dam 35. A closing cap 64 is provided at the upper end of the opening in the hexagonal extension ll of the hinge pin H8.

The upper leaf iii of the hydraulic hinge is preferably made integrally with the part-casing l5 adapted to fit over the upper portion of the hydraulic mechanism cartridge housing II. A sleeve bearing 65 is provided between the cartridge and the inner surface of the part-casing l5; and a hexagonal hole [9 is provided in the upper end of the part-casing i5 adapted to non- -rotatably engage the hexagonal shaft extension ll. The cap 64 is threaded into a hole in the end of the shaft extension ll and is accessible through an opening in the upper part of the part-casing l5.

The lower leaf I4 is preferably made integrally with the lower part-casing l3 and is adapted to fit over the lower portion of the cartridge housing H, the cartridge being held against turning by the worm gear 20 as previously described.

The advantages of my improved detent will be apparent. The detent allows the door to be held open at any selected angle, such as that shown of from the closed position. The detent wedge may be located, upon any desired portion of cap 28 by inserting it into any one of a series of holes in the top surface of the closing cap of the cartridge, the unused holes being flush plugged to avoid the interference of the open unused holes with the smooth silent movement of the ball on the surface. The detent may be easily released, so that the hinge functions in the usual way.

Reference is made to my copending applications, Ser. No. 714,704, filed December 7, 1946, now Patent No. 2,469,447, dated May 10, 1949 and Ser. No. 35,640, filed June 28, 1948, the structure of the cartridge disclosed herein forming the subject matter of the latter application; and the worm gear adjusting device disclosed herein forming the subject matter of the former application.

I claim:

1. A hinge mechanism comprising a pair of leaves adapted for attachment to a closure and to a closure mounting frame; a cartridge having a cylindrical housing and a concentric shaft extension protruding from the upper end of said cartridge housing, said cartridge containing hydraulic checking means adapted to control the relative rotary movement of said shaft extension and said cartridge housing; a hollow upper partcasing extending from the edge of one leaf, adapted to fit over and turn on the upper portion of said cartridge housing, and to non-rotatably engage said shaft extension; a hollow lower part-casing extending from the edge of the other leaf, adapted to fit over the lower portion of said cartridge housirg and detent means for releasably holding said upper part-casing at a selected position relative to said cartridge comprising spring disk means non-rotatably attached to said shaft extension and disposed bitween the top surface of said cartridge and the contiguous surface of said upper part-casing, and wedge means disposed at a selected position on the top surface of said cartridge and adapted to engage a surface of said disk means to effect wedging engagement between said upper casing and said cartridge.

2. A hinge mechanism comprising a pair of leaves adapted for attachment to a closure and to a closure mounting frame; a cartridge having a cylindrical housing and a concentric shaft extension protruding from the upper end of said cartridge housing, said cartridge containing hydraulic checking means adapted to control the relative rotary movement of said shaft extension and said cartridge housing; a hollow upper partcasing extending from the edge of one leaf, adapted to fit over and turn on the upper portion of said cartridge housing, and to non-rotatably engage said shaft extension; a hollow lower partcasing extending from the edge of the other leaf, adapted to fit over the lower portion of said cartridge housing; and detent means for releasably holding said upper part-casing at a selected position relative to said cartridge comprising a plurality of spring disks having center holes non-rotatably fitting over said shaft extension, means for holding together the outer edge portions of said disks to form a warpable disk bundle, said disk bundle being disposed between the top surface of said cartridge and the contiguous surface of said upper part-casing,

a ball cavity in said disk bundle near the periphery thereof extending from the bottom of said bundle but not through the top disk thereof, a ball in said cavity having a diameter greater than the depth of said cavity and adapted to press against said top disk, a detent Wedge attached to the top surface of said cartridge and adapted to press said ball in said cavity against the said top disk to buckle it whereby to removably wedge said upper casing relative to said cartridge at a selected angular position.

3. In a removable-cartridge type door hinge, a cartridge unit having a central shaft extension, an upper part casing and a lower part casing, each casing being attached to a hinge leaf and together forming a hinge; the upper part casing having a central hole to non-rotatably engage said center shaft; detent means between the top surface of said cartridge and the inside end surface of said upper part casing, said detent means being adapted for releasably holding said upper part casing at a selected angular position relative to said cartridge, said detent means comprising spring disk means non-rotatably attached to said shaft extension and disposed between the contiguous surfaces of said cartridge end and the inside end of said upper part casing and wedge means disposed at a selected posi- 'tion on the top surface of said cartridge and (adapted to engage a surface of said disk means ,to effect wedging engagement between the upper casing and said spring disk means.

ALFRED J. SWANSON.

No references cited. 

